Photo by Catherine Stachowiak
Under the New Business section of the November 12 agenda for the meeting for the Kern River Valley Public Cemetery District was the section Consider Bylaw Amendment, Provision D; Section 6.
This was the start of the board of trustees consideration to opt for a raise on the monthly stipend amount trustees are paid.
That day administrator John Blythe announced, “A couple of the trustees wanted to consider talking about amending the $50 stipend (they are paid) to $100. So it’s up to you guys to discuss. If you want to do action, next month, I can put it back on (the upcoming agenda.) But it’s up to you guys. The county ordinance is $100 maximum for districts.”
Trustee Mike Ryan said, “We’re too low. Right. We’re too low.”
Trustee Esteban Olivares said, “The only thing that I could figure is that I sometimes feel guilty just accepting money for this. But in the future if we want to get viable candidates for the positions, it’s kind of important to be competitive, as strange as that sounds. I mean the stress of the last several months is definitely…”
Chairman trustee Harry Schustz said, “I’m looking at the flip side of it for myself. I think we contribute a lot: our time, our effort (and) driving here, back n forth. We make important decisions. And I don’t think that should be taken lightly. And it’s just a support that you’re doing your job. That’s how I look at it.”
Ryan said, “Well just as the prices of everything else. Well that’s why I asked that this be put on the agenda.”
Blythe explained that if any trustee didn’t want their stipend they could donate it back to the district.
Ryan wanted to vote on the issue, for January 1, and everyone agreed for the topic to go on the upcoming agenda.
The next meeting of the board is December 10, at 1pm, 8441 Burlando Road, Wofford Heights.
